Arroyo says her voice on tape, denies rigging poll

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has admitted phoning an election official during last year's poll.

In a televised speech on Monday, she apologised for her "lapse of judgement" but denied trying to influence the vote and insisted she would not resign.

Critics said a tape recording of a phone call between a woman sounding like her and an election commissioner was proof she tried to rig the vote.

The political crisis comes as her support has hit an all-time low.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4625619.stm

:sarcasm:

Monday, June 27, 2005

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Manila

A lawyer in the Philippines filed on Monday an impeachment complaint against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, urging the legislature to oust her from office for alleged voter fraud during the 2004 elections.

Mrs Arroyo must be removed for “betrayal of public trust arising from the ‘Gloriagate’ tapes,” Oliver Lozano told local radio after lodging the complaint at the House of Representatives.

“No politician is behind me,” he said. “I do it for a cause.”

Any citizen can file an impeachment complaint against the president at the House, where it must be approved by at least one third of its members before the case is sent to the Senate for trial.

http://asia.scmp.com/asianews/ZZZ9VDL1GAE.html

:kick:

"I recognize that making any such call was a lapse in judgment," a somber Arroyo said as she looked into the camera. "I am sorry. I also regret taking so long to speak before you on this matter. "I take full responsibility for my actions. To you and to all those good citizens who may have had their faith shaken by this event, I want to assure you that I have redoubled my efforts to serve the nation and earn your trust," she said.
"I want to close this chapter and move on with the business of governing," she said.

Meanwhile, deposed president Joseph Estrada said yesterday that Arroyo must be made to answer in court after admitting she called a poll commissioner during last year's vote.

Congress should also be asked to play in full the wiretapped conversations between Arroyo and commissioner Virgilio Garcillano in which they allegedly conspired to rig the votes, Estrada said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2005/06/28/2003261208

50 years later and nothing has changed in the PI. Actually it has only gotten worse and worse under the American stewardship to the pathetic point of today. Yet aWol, in the PI, said the "Philippines is the model for all Democracies to follow."

Secondly, why is nearly EVERY country demoinated by Catholic Christianity and America's heavy hand corrupt and poor?

http://home.iprimus.com.au/korob/fdtcards/Cards_Index.html


How many of you on this thread have ever visited the PI? Seen the forced child prostitutes within a block from Saddam's, I mean Arroyo's palace?